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Expect Royal Forest to Be Favorite Over Thirty-Two Foes in Epsom Derby American Interest Centers On Woodwards Brown Rover In Coveted English Classic By VERNON MORGAN, Reuters Sports Editor LONDON, England, June 3.— Thirty-three of the best three -year-olds in Britain and France will go to the post in the historic Epsom Derby tomorrow afternoon for the 170th running of Englands premier classic. The race has a bigger international flavor than usual, for not only does the field include many French-bred and French-trained colts, but the United States has a big interest in the American-owned and bred Brown Rover, while among the jockeys riding are Australians, Frencmen, Irishmen and Englishmen. The first prize of more than 6,000 will go to the winning owner. This is a wide open race and there are many owners whose colors are unfamiliar even to regular racegoers, and there is widespread opinion among turfmen about the leading candidates. The favorite is Major MacDonald-Buchanans Royal Forest. He is a well-bred colt and will be ridden by Gordon Richards, but he has temperament and may decide tomorrow to take a look at the holiday crowd in prefer- — — ■ ► — — ence to running. Gordon Richards has ridden 23 times in the Derby, and although he has been second, third, fourth and even last, he has never won the classic. Richards himself believes his turn will come tomorrow and he is not alone in thinking so. Another horse with a question mark behind his name is Swallow Tail, owned by Lord Derby. This colt ran dismally at Liverpool, where he was beaten by a second rater, but previously had won the Chester Vase. Recently he has been tried in blinkers and it is reported that he went extremely well. Normally blinkers are only put on wayward horses and it would be a record for a horse wearing such equipment to win the biggest prize of the British turf. But he still has many supporters. Of the probable runners no more genuine horses exist than the American entry of Brown Rover, owned by William Woodward, and Nimbus, winner of the 2,000 Guineas. Brown Rover will be ridden by jockey Edgar Britt, whose fine booting brought home Musidora in the Oaks a neck before Coronation yesterday. He should stay the tricky Epsom course, but whether he has the speed is open to doubt. Many said Musidora* winner of the 1,000 Guineas, would not stay at Epsom, but now Continued on Page Three Epsom Derby Attracts Thirty-Three Entries See Royal Forest as Favorite; Brown Rover American Hopeful Continued from Page One that she has done so, those who said the same thing about Nimbus are beginning to have their doubts. This son of Nearco, owned by Mrs. M. Glenister, would bring his owner the honor of being only the second woman to lead in a Derby winner since the face was first mn in 1780. Mrs. Miller, who won in 1937 with Midday Sun, was the only other winning woman. Then there are the "Drake" horses — Val Drake, Amour Drake and Lord Drake. These three were all bred by Leon Volterra and the first two are still his property and according to latest plans Amour Drake will carry his first colors and be ridden by his number one jockey, Australian-born "Togo" Johnstone. Johnstone is known in France, where he rides mostly, as "Crocodile," because he "eats up" his rivals near the finish. Yet there are those who think Val Drake may prove the better of the two tomorrow. The third member of the Lord Drake family was sold some time ago to band leader Jack Hylton, in whose bizarre jazz colors the horse will run tomorrow. If Val Drake wins, his sire Vatellor will have the unique distinction of having got the English Derby winner three years in a row. Rain fell heavily today and more showers are forecast for the night, but the well-drained Epsom course is not likely to be soft. At worst it will be no more than yielding.
